Croatia to reintroduce compulsory military service

Croatia is set to reintroduce a compulsory, two-month conscription from January 2025, Croatian Minister of Defense, Ivan Anusic, said.

The country had suspended the mandatory service in 2008, shifting to a volunteer-based system. Its reinstatement comes amid the escalation of tensions in Europe, namely the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“The modernization and equipment of the Armed Forces is proceeding as planned and in accordance with the agreement with our allies and the NATO leadership,” the Minister said.

“We increased the salaries of soldiers, non-commissioned officers and officers, their material rights not only through personal income but also through daily wages and everything they are entitled to,” he added. 

Other Balkan countries, who have gone through bloody wars in the 1990s, are also seeking to bolster their respective militaries. Last year, Latvia reintroduced compulsory military service in response to regional threats. Serbia has been considering reinstating the service as well.